The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-07
THE TORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Passes Number of Bills In
creasing Various Private Pensions.
Brief Discussion Of the InteroceanicC Canal
Questionable President Fayors the House
with More Yet0es of Pension Bills.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
Pension Bills Passed-Mr. Mcpherson Ex-
piains-Interoceanic Canals.
WAsHINGToN, Feb 5.-Ameng the papers
submitted to the Senate to-day was communi-
cation from the Secretary of the Navy, with
report of Lieut.. E. H. Taunt, United States
navy, Of his six months journey on the Congo
coins collected by him.
On motion of Mr. Allison. the House bill to
authorize the construction of high wagon and
foot passenger bridge over the Mississippi river
between East Dubuque, ILL.,, and Dubuque, Ia.
was taken Up and passed. The conference re-
port on the arill for public building at Chatta-
nooga, Team. was presented and agreed to.
Mr. Voorhees, offered resolution to discharge
the committee on Territories from further con-
sideration of the House bill to change the time
of meeting Of the legislative assembly of Wash
5ngton Territory, and gave notice that he would
sall it up on Monday.
The Senase then proceeded to consider pension
bills on the calendar.
Sixty-six pension bills were passed, among
them the House bill granting pension Of $50 a
month to the widow of Brig. Gen. Thomas Fran
els Meagher; House bill increasing the pension
of the widow of Col James Hemphill Jones. of
the marine corps, from $50 to $40 month; a
Senate bill increasing the pension os the widow
of Major general Hunter to $50 a month, and
one giving an army nurse 81 a month; one
giving volunteer nurse $2o month; one in
creasng the pension of the widow of Commo-
dore Spicer to $50, and one increasing the pen
sion of the widow of Col. Loren Barrett to 100
The Senate then proceeded to consideration of
the Indian appropriation bill. The hill, which
contains fifty Two rinted pages, passed
without a word OF discussion and with more
delay than was consistent with its very rapid
reading
Mr.. Morrill, moved to proceed to consideration
of the bill to reimburse the depositors of the
Freedmens Savings and Trust Company. Not
agreed to-
Mr. Mcpherson made a personal explanation
III regard to statement in the Washington cor
respondence Of the New York World. He
therein represented as saying, THAT the report
OF the judiciary committee on the Pacific rail
road matter was very great triumph for the
World; that it was very clear to his mind that
as soon as Congress comprehended the true
nature of the exposure vigorous steps would be
taken to bring the Pacific railroads to book"
This statement ne made, and he stood by it, and
emphasized it now. The article went on to say,
however. (but not in quotation marks and not as
quoting him) that it is believed the investigation
will lead to such disclosures that Senator STAN
FORT wouh be willing to resign his seat in the
Senate: that he would have to explain his share
in the illegal expenditure of the 2.000 000 etc.
This latter statement was not attributed to
him, and was not quoted. the other state
ment was. The high character of the World
correspondent precluded the idea of his attribut-
ing to any Senator statement which he had
not made. His relations with Senator Stanford
forbade his making such statement in relation
to him. Besides, he had no knowledge what
ever OF the matter referred to. He made this
explanation so as to put stop to any misappre-
,hension on the subject It had been nisappre-
hended, and his attention had been called to it
this morning by several Senators.
The Senate bill to incorporate the Atlantic g
Pacific Ship Railway Company-the Eads Te-
huantepec bill-was then taken up special
order.
Mr. Morgan, in an argument in support of the
bill. declared himself in favor of policy like
that embodied in the resolutions reported some
years ago by Senator Eaton, of Connecticut
from the committee on foreign relations, that
whatever transit there might be across the
. isthmus should be under the control of the
United States government, absolutely and indie
pendently, in connection with the government
through whose territory it passed AS
to the Panama canal, he thought that
the United States government had been
little derelict in not informing France,
tif France were the power behind the canal
buiiders) that this government had interest
in that question predominant over that of any
other government in the world; ard that certain
guarantees we're necessary to be given in rela-
lion to the transit of ships through that canal,
which would entirely satisfy the people of the
United States, that in peace and in war, their in
terests IN connection with that transit were TO
be absolutely preserved and protected He had
read this morning a letter from naval officer
stating that several large war vessels of England
and France were lying in the neighborhood of
the mouth of the Panama canal, ostensibly for
the purpose of transferring crews by the PanR-
ma railroad between their Atlantic and Pacific
fquadrons. He did not interpret their presence
there as being any sort of threat; but he did in
terpret it sign that both of these govern
ments were the lookout for their interests in
that quarter This letter confirmed q belief
which he had held for long time, that the
islands which lay so conveniently near to the
mouth of the Panama canal would be taken pos
session of and fortified by one Of these great pow
ers, which one he was not prepared to determine.
1t would be race of diligence, he Thought, as to
which should get ahead. His own belief was
that those governments were preparing to seize
islands in the vicinity of that canal with a view
of having An independent right to them. and the
power of fortIfying them at their will and pleas
ure What foothold, he asked, had the United
States in that section of the world2 Nothing
except the precarious paper right which it had
under the Clay toni rlwer treaty. He referred
10 the fact Of the British government taking pos
session OF the island of Cyprus in order to con
troll the SueZ Canal
Mr.. Hoar remarked that the subject was n very
important one; that it had not been expected to
tors were in the chamber, and he suggested
whether the Senator would not prefer to continue
lis speech on Monday.
Mr. Morgan said that he would.
Mr. Hale offered an amendment that, except
rs To the guarantee of 81 500 600 expressly pro
vided in the bill. the United States should be in
no respect whatever liable for any debt or obi
CATION of the company.
The Senate then adjourned
THE HOUSE.
More VetOes from lre =,